The New York Jets have announced they have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Dri Archer to a futures contract.
After being released by the Steelers on November 5th, Archer reportedly turned down ten practice squad offers, including one from Pittsburgh, in hopes of landing on a roster. That never came to fruition and now the former 3rd round pick is one of hundreds of players on a futures deal, hoping to make it through the offseason.
I hate being “that guy” but I am going to be “that guy” for a moment. Though I am acutely aware this is a futures deal, and he wasn’t scooped up immediately after being released, I did propose trading Archer and a 7th round pick for DE Leger Douzable way back in early October, a full month before Archer was cut. And now, Archer is with the Jets free of charge.
I’m shaking my fist at you, Kevin Colbert.
Archer will compete for a presumed running back spot in New York. The Jets are reportedly unlikely to retain starting running back Chris Ivory, who is set to be a free agent. They’re thin at running back otherwise with just Bilal Powell and Stevan Ridley finishing the year as healthy bodies. Zac Stacey was placed on injured reserve during the year while the team also inked Dominique Williams to a futures contract.
